White Zombie - Astro Creep: 2000

Nothing like cleaning my BEP palette with a little metal. Follower janis! was commenting the other day how Mr. Rob Zombie can put together a good soundtrack. Since I really don't know any of his soundtrack work - I can go back to what put him on the map for good. When this dropped in 1995, 'More Human Than Human' was all the rage. Even the white bread suburban kids LOVED it. It was hard not to hear this on the radio and do a little head-banging. These guys are named after a 1932 film with the same name - bet you didn't know that! The B Side always drops a little knowledge in addition to being the best music review site out there. White Zombie was making music even in the mid 80's, but never really caught on anywhere. It wasn't until signing with Geffen in 1992 that they hit the charts. 'Le Sexocristo' is a really good album too, but 'Astro Creep' really put them in the headlines. Most of the members have moved on to other acts - which is cool. Obviously Rob made a bunch of solo stuff and have gone on to movie directing. I still don't think I've seen any of his films, but I've always wanted to. It's hard finding people big into the horror genre. But this album, really good. Even if you're not big into metal, it's solid. Something about it is simply entrancing. Like a lesser awesome version of any NIN album. This is very industrial metal, but if you listen hard enough, there are spots where it's almost poppy. Like More Human - very hard, very in your face - but also tolerable to the non metal ear. This is only 2x platinum, but I can't imagine it'd be even sniffing that sort of sales if it wasn't for that track. If you're a metal fan, the whole album is great. Totally worth checking out. Rock your way into Friday with a little Zombie.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Electric Head Pt. 1 (The Agony)
2. Super-Charger Heaven
3. Real Solution #9
4. Creature of the Wheel
5. Electric Head Pt. 2 (The Ecstasy)
6. Grease Paint and Monkey Brains
7. I, Zombie
8. More Human Than Human
9. El Phantasmo and the Chicken-Run Blast-O-Rama
10. Blur the Technicolor
11. Blood, Milk and Sky

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. More Human Than Human
2. Super Charger Heaven
3. Electric Head, Part 2

FINAL RATING:
4 out of 5 stars

Black Eyed Peas - The Beginning

Ahh yes, the Black Eyed Peas. This just dropped on Tuesday, but no samples were linked, so I waited. I decided for no real good reason to check on it again today - not sure why. I have a very deep love/hate relationship with the Peas. While their music is certainly catchy and DEFINES the word pop - lyrically it's just garbage. I mean, I'm so 3008, you so two thousand and late. Get serious. I still have a huge crush on Fergie though, so that saves them for me a bit. Hey, don't judge. This album is a follow up to The E.N.D (duh) which stood for the Energy Never Dies. This is named the beginning because it supposedly symbolizes growth, new beginnings and starts a fresh new perspective. I highly doubt that. I just don't see them really messing with the recipe for success they've built. Take track one for example - they remix and cover the Dirty Dancing anthem "The Time". This song is honestly terrible. This album in total might be a little more dance-ish than normal, but it's not earth shatteringly different. I'm still waiting for them to drop something awesome. Monkey Business was pretty solid, but after that - mostly garbage. I actually like this MORE than END - only because I love dance music. This fits more into that genre. I don't know what else will be radio worthy off this - but I'm guessing it won't be as big as The End. It's worth checking out I guess - but not more than a few tracks. If you don't like track 2, you won't like track 14.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Time, The (Dirty Bit)
2. Light Up the Night
3. Love You Long Time
4. XOXOXO
5. Someday
6. Whenever
7. Fashion Beats
8. Don't Stop the Party
9. Do It Like This
10. Best One Yet, The (The Boy)
11. Just Can't Get Enough
12. Play It Loud

Listen To Samples

1. Play It Loud
2. Love You Long Time
3. Own It

FINAL RATING:
3.25 out of 5 stars

Heart - Self Titled

When I was listening to Cher the other day, I remembered this little band called Heart. It all started in Seattle in the early 70's. They still make music today, in fact dropped a new album not all that long ago. The only members who have been there start to finish have been the Wilson sisters, Ann and Nancy. Just full disclosure, I think these guys are extremely talented. I mean, even if you're he hardest rap loving guy in the world, you still have to enjoy a little Barracuda right? The vocals, the riff, everything about it is rock solid. I specifically chose this album though because it didn't have that song on it. Oh wait, fun story about that track. It was rumored back in the late 70's that the Wilson sisters had maybe experimented with each other. You know, in that illegal way. This enraged Ann so much, she read that article went back to her hotel room and wrote Barracuda. Crazy, since that song really put them on the map for good. If we could all find such glorious inspiration in our haters, we'd all be so much better off. Regardless, I picked this album because they're no one trick pony. This album didn't drop until 1985 and is a nice 5x platinum in the states. 6x in Canada, which is surprising. Anyway, there are another solid 4 songs on this album too. I didn't listen to Hearts latest yet, but I have watched a recent show, and they can still bring the fire. I don't think they intend to stop anytime soon again. They've gone through ups and downs and made big money and lost big money. I think at this point, they're just doing for their passion and love for the fans. It doesn't get better than that. Check it out today - I think you'll love it too.

TRACK LISTING:
1. If Looks Could Kill
2. What About Love
3. Never
4. These Dreams
5. Wolf, The
6. All Eyes
7. Nobody Home
8. Nothin' at All
9. What He Don't Know
10. Shell Shock

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. These Dreams
2. What About Love
3. Never

FINAL RATING:
3.75 out of 5 stars

Ciara - Goodies

Pop music can be funny. Sometimes what is super poppy at the time, is also considered r&b or rap or alternative. The list goes on. Ciara (I think) tried to get into the rap pool at first, similar to Lil Kim or now Nicki Minaj. She also was very tight with Missy Elliott - and many rap devotees respected Missy E. That didn't translate to Ciar though, in spite of her best efforts to collaborate with Ludacris. Ciara's actual middle name is Princess. That's crazy. She was born in Austin, Texas - but ended up traveling the world and meeting DJ Jazzy Pha in the ATL. 'Goodies' was Ciara's first studio album, and it came out back in 2004. I actually remembered that off the top of my head, because this album had singles that were HUGE. As a whole, this has only sold a meager 3x platinum. Honestly, that's shocking. Having the three huge singles this did, I would have expected more album sales. 'Oh' was the first huge drop - and that was with a good reason. Usually Ludacris blows collabos up. If you want your album to go platinum, you contact Luda. The other singles seemed to have put this album on the map for good. And this was also when ringtones were really starting to blow up. (does anyone care about ringtones anymore?) Ciara did HUGE ringtone sales too, mostly for Goodies. Start to finish, this album is super lackluster. This is probably why the sales are low. This is an album that you could spend 3 dollars downloading the singles on iTunes, and not have to spend 10 on the whole record. If nothing else, listen to the singles today. They're certainly catchy.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Goodies
2. 1, 2 Step
3. Thug Style
4. Hotline
5. Oh
6. Pick Up the Phone
7. Lookin' at You
8. Ooh Baby
9. Next to You
10. And I
11. Other Chicks
13. Goodies (Bonus Track)

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Oh
2. 1,2 Step
3. Goodies

FINAL RATING:
2.25 out of 5 stars

Eric Benet - Lost In Time

Have you ever heard Eric Benet before? If you're anything like me, you knew him for two reasons: 1) he was from Milwaukee (so maybe you didn't know that if you're not from Milwaukee like me - but go with it) 2) he was married to Halle Berry. That was significant, because it gave any random Milwaukee guy hope that he could marry a girl like Halle. I knew he was a musician, but I had no idea what genre he was in, or ever heard anything by him. Well, that's the fun part of having a music blog. I stumbled upon him dropping a new record today and though, why not? Turns out this is his fifth studio release since 1996. Not too bad for a guy I'd never heard of. This guy has seen a myriad of tragedy over the years. His father died of cancer, his girlfriend was involved in a bad car accident, was in a coma for five days - then finally passed on. This all happened while he was trying to get noticed and make music. He turned his back on music for a brief period, and started working for UPS in Milwaukee. He didn't give up on the dream though, and the rest is history. I'm not really sure how to classify this one. It's got a Ne-Yo type feel to it, without the poppy backdrops. Very soulful, and probably something that wouldn't get major airplay on the radio. Maybe some specialized stations that focus on R&B - that's about it. I like it though. I like his vocal, his voice and I like the arrangements. Who doesn't love that old school Marvin Gaye vocal over the horns? It's timeless. Check this out today. Even if your only reason is to support a Milwaukee guy. You might be impressed.

TRACK LISTING
1. Never Want To Live Without You
2. Feel Good
3. Sometimes I Cry
4. Always A Reason
5. Paid
6. Take It
7. Stir It Up
8. Summer Love
9. Lost In Time
10. Good Life
11. Something's Wrong

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Never Want To Live Without You
2. Sometimes I Cry
3. Lost In Time

FINAL RATING:
3.5 out of 5 stars

Justice - †

I think I've mentioned before how I sometimes run across new music via iTunes. Wait, I know I did - because follower Mith told me how lame I was for liking iTunes. Maybe he'll rehash that discussion today. Anyway, Justice is a band I caught up with via the 'Single of the Week'. If you don't know, Apple sets up free downloads of the week, that tend to feature some pretty out there stuff. Fortunately for me, I love the out there world of music. The single they featured was 'D.A.N.C.E' - which I encourage you to listen to. Luckily for me, I didn't give up hope based on one of the more annoying dance tracks I ever heard. I looked deeper into Justice, and I was served. (YES! Sometimes I amaze myself with my wordplay) This is a French band that started disco breaking around 2005 or so. These guys started off producing and mixing only - and saw some pretty solid success. They mixed for well known acts such as Britney Spears, NERD and Daft Punk. Pretty high marks from those people too. That's partially why I was pumped to listen to this. I simply had to get past the one track being really bad. I've brought up the Dracula Musical from the film Forgetting Sarah Marshall before - and these guys had a similar idea. This was intended to be a concept album, that was based on a "opera-disco". Crazy stuff. I challenge any beatnut to listen to this and not tap your toes. It's got a very electric dance feel, which I really love. Very Daft Punk-ish, and who doesn't like what they put out? High marks from me on this record, and you should check it out. Very well done.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Genesis
2. Let There Be Light
3. D.A.N.C.E.
4. Newjack
5. Phantom
6. Phantom Pt II
7. Valentine
8. Tthhee Ppaarrttyy
9. Dvno
10. Stress
11. Waters of Nazareth
12. One Minute to Midnight

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Genesis
2. Phantom I or II
3. Stress

FINAL RATING:
4 out of 5 stars

311 - Self Titled

I challenge to find someone who was big into music, and didn't listen to this at least once. I mean come on, this was almost an anthem during its day. Of all places for hardcore alternative bands to form, these guys came from Nebraska. Yeah - Nebraska. Lovely Omaha. Been there. Great town if you're a farmer. Just kidding Nebraskans. I love all midwest states. There has been a ton of speculation where they got their name from. I remember back in the day, being called a racist for having a 311 band t shirt. Why you ask? Because the letter 'K' is the 11th letter of the alphabet. 3-11 broken down could then mean KKK. A bit of a stretch for me, but whatever. I'd been called worse. The real deal is 311 is the police code for indecent exposure. They got caught by police swimming nude, so they stole the band name from that. Many people call this the 'Blue Album' - but that distinction can only go to one band, and even if Weezer wasn't first, it's still a WAY better record. That doesn't mean I don't still enjoy this one, because I do. It's a solid 3x platinum, with one of those copies being mine. (And I still actually own it) It's not something I listen to super often, but I do occasionally toss it on. It's got a decently cool feel to it. Definitely alternative style, but also a little Sublime-y and punk rocky too. My guess is when you listened to it 15 years ago, you skipped to 'Down' and 'All Mixed Up' - and rightfully so. Those were great songs in the day. The rest of the album doesn't really stray from that style. For that reason, it's worth listening to. Check it out today and go back to '95. Feel young again.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Down
2. Random
3. Jackolantern's Weather
4. All Mixed Up
5. Hive
6. Guns (Are For Pussies)
7. Misdirected Hostility
8. Purpose
9. Loco
10. Brodels
11. Don't Stay Home
12. Dlmd
13. Sweet
14. T & P Combo

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. All Mixed Up
2. Down
3. Don't Stay Home

FINAL RATING:
3 out of 5 stars